Combination drilling and brushing tool in a pipe cleaning machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe constructed so as to include a hollow rod, a cleaning tool located on one end of the rod, means for moving the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, means for rotating the rod as it is so moved and means for conveying a fluid through the rod to adjacent to the cleaning tool may be improved through the use of a combination drilling and brushing tool as a cleaning tool. Such a drilling and brushing tool includes a hollow sleeve attached to the end of the rod, brushing elements located on the exterior of the sleeve and a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve remote from the rod, this blade having at least one hole leading to its surface which is in communication with the interior of a rod through the sleeve. The tool preferably has a flushing housing provided with ports leading from its interior to its exterior located between the sleeve and a rod.

United States Patent 91 Jai [ 51 July 23, 1974 COMBINATION DIIILLING AND BRUSHING TOOL IN A PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward D. OBrian [76] Inventor: Marlyse Janeen Baldwin Jul, 3155 French Rd. Apt. 223, Beaumont, 1 ABSTRACT Tex, 77704 .A machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe constructed so as to include a hollow rod, a cleaning [22] Flled' 1972 tool located on one end of the rod, means for moving [2]] Appl. No.: 307,337 the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, means for rotating the rod as it is so Y moved and means for conveying a fluid through the 8|. l5/104.1 1 rod to adjacent to the cleaning tool may be improved '[58] Fie'ld 104 1 R through the use of a combination drilling and brushing r tool as a cleaning tool. Such a drilling and brushing l5/104'12 1 tool includes a hollow sleeve attached to the end of the rod, brushing elements located on the exterior of [56] Refgences Cited the sleeve and a cutting blade located on the end of UNITED TATESVPATENTS v the sleeve remote from the rod, this blade having at 1,355,726 10/ 1920 Zlatnik 104.1 R UX least one hole leading to its surface which is in coml igg'gg 2; {33; g r: 231}: munication with the interior of a rod through the as sleeve. The tool preferably has a flushing housing pro- 2,803,842 8ll957 Fuller l5ll04.1 R I vidd with ports leading from its interior to its exterior located between the sleeve and a rod.

5 Claims, SDrawing Figures PATEN TED JUL 2 3 4.

IN A PIPE CLEANING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The accumulation of material within the interiors of various different types of pipes is normally quite disad vantageous. Such accumulationsnot only impede, but at times block flow through various difierent types of pipes. Frequently such accumulations preclude the interchange of heat between fluids passing through the interiors of. pipes and other materials located around such pipes. For these and related reasons it.has long beert recognized that it is necessary to remove deposits from pipe interiors. I

In the heat exchanger field such deposits have commonly been removed with machines constructed so as to include a hollow rod, a cleaning tool secured to one end of the rod, a means for moving a rod .in a length wise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, a means for rotating the rodas it is moved and a means for conveying fluid through the rod to adjacent to the cleaning tool. The cleaning tool normally used in such a machine is a blade-type structure designed-to cut against and physically break up accumulations within a pipe interior as the machine is used.-

The construction and operation of such machinesis considered to be relatively important in obtaining an effective cleaning action and in minimizing the possibility of pipe damage as they are employed. The importance of these factors is best realized by considering the nature of the pipes within a heat exchanger. These pipes can effectively transfer heat onlyif fluid can readily flow through them and if there are no accumulations or deposits in them which will tend to block or-prevent effective heat transfer. Such accumulations or deposits not only impede fluid flow, but interfere 'with heat transfer.

It is both difficult and expensive to replace the various pipes within a heat exchanger. Because of this, care must be exercised in constructing and operating a cleaning machine as described so as .to avoid any reasonable possibility of pipe damage occurring as the result of the use of these'machines. Because of the nature of the cleaning tools normally employed in thesemachines such damage is always a possibility if acleaning tool should fit extremely closely against a pipe interior or should be held or operated in an improper manner.

As the result of this and various other related factors it is considered that there is a need for new and improved cleaning tools for use in cleaning pipe interiors in heat exchangers and various related structures such as boilers and the like. More specifically it is consider'ed that there is a need for new cleaning tools which will effectively remove substantially .all accumulations and deposits within pipe interiors so as to provide clean pipe surfaces and which will be of such a character that there is substantially no dange of pipe damage accompanying their use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ing discussion which can be effectively and easily uti- I lizedto clean pipe'interiors without damage. A further objective of the present inventionis to provide structures as indicated which are relatively inexpensive, which are effective for their :intended purpose and which may be easily serviced as requiredas a consequence of wear resulting from their use.

In accordance with this invention'these and various related objectives ofit are achieved by using in combination with a machine having an elongated hollow rod, a cleaning tool secured to one end of therod, ameans for moving the ro'din a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, a means for rotating the rod as it is so moved and a means for conveying the fluid through the rod to adjacent to the cleaning tool, the improvement which comprises: the cleaning tool being a combination drilling'and brushing toolincluding a hollow sleeve attached toan end of the rod, brushing elements located on the exterior of the sleeve-and a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve remote from the rod, this blade havingat least onehole leading from its surface to the interior of the sleeve so as to be in communication with the interior of the rod.

Preferably a combination drilling and brushing tool as indicated is constructed so asto utilize a flushing housing having ports leading from its interior to its exterior located between the sleeve and the rod. Preferably,.a cage or retainer is located around the sleeve and a plurality of individual brushing elements are held within the cage by end or retainer caps so that the brushes on such elements extend outwardly from it. With this type of construction the brushesused may be easily and conveniently replaced as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional details of the invention set forth in this specification are best more fully explained with reference to the remainder of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

' FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a presently preferred embodiment or form of a combination drilling and brushing tool utilizing the concepts of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a cage or retainer employed in the illustrated tool; and

FIG. 5 is adiagrammatic view of a machine with which the illustrated tool is used.

The precise tool shown in the drawing is onlyone embodiment or form of a tool constructed in accordance with the concepts of this invention. These concepts are of an essentially intangible nature and are set forth and defined in the appended claims. Those skilled in the art of pipe cleaning will 'beable to utilize these concepts in various structures having different appearances and different constructional features through the use or exercise of routine engineering skill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 of the drawing there is shown a drilling and brushing tool 10 in accordance with this invention for use in combination with a pipe cleaning machine 12 as indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawing. This machine 12 is preferably constructed in accordance with conventional practice so as to include a cylinder 14 having a piston 16 located within its interior. This piston 16 is connected by means of a conventional rotary joint 17 to a hollow rod 18 serving as a cylinder rod which projects outwardly through the end 20 of the cylinder 14. A conventional structure 22 is located adjacent to the end 20 for rotating the rod 18. This structure 22 is not detailed herein since it is of a character which is well known in the art of pipe cleaning machines.

The end of the rod 18 adjacent to the end 20 is adapted to carry the tool 10. In prior machines such as the machine 12 conventional cutting tools have been carried in this location. A valve 24 is connected as in conventional practice by conduits 26 to the cylinder 14 so that the piston 16 may be reciprocated during the use of the machine 12 and so that a cleaning fluid such as water may be supplied through a hole 28 in the piston 16 to the interior of the rod 18 for use as the tool is employed. v

The particular tool 10 illustrated includes a generally 7 cylindrical housing 30 having an'axially aligned, exteriorly threaded tubular extension 32 located at one of its ends 34. The interior 36 of the housing 30 adjacent to another end 38 is internally threaded so that the housing 30 may be readily coupled to a threaded end 40 of a tubular sleeve 42. The other end 44 of the sleeve 42 is of larger diameter than the end 40 and is threaded as shown. It is separated from the central region 46 of this sleeve 42 by a small annular shoulder 48. i

A cylindrical cage or retainer 50 having an internally threaded end 52 is located so that this end 52 is threaded upon the end 44 so as to be held in an operative position. This retainer 50 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced longitudinally extending slots 54 which do not extend to either the end 52 or toanother end 56 of the retainer 50 located remote from this end 52. Preferably shoulders 58 are provided at the ends 52 and 56 on the outside of the retainer 50 so that end caps 60 may be located around these ends 52 and 56 flush with the exterior of the retainer 50.

These end caps 60 are used so as to hold generally rectangular brush mounting bars 62 in the slots 54 so that brushes 64 mounted on these bars 62 in a conventional manner extend from the sleeve 42 radially in parallel equally spaced rows. The bars 62 preferably fit closely within the slots 54 and preferably include end notches 66 enabling the end caps 60 to fit with respect to themin such a manner that they are firmly held flush with the exterior of the retainer 50. A nut 68 is provided on the end 40 so as to firmly hold the assembly relative to' the sleeve 42 in such a manner that the sleeve 42 and the various parts surrounding it in effect constitute a unit. I

In the structure shown this unit rests up against a small cylindrical coupling 70 having internally threaded ends 72 and 74. The end 72 is threaded upon the end 44. The end 74 receives a threaded hollow extension 76 which is located upon a curved spade-like 0 cutting blade 78. Holes 80 are provided between the interior of the extension 76 and the surfaces of the blade 78. Similar holes 82 are provided in the housing 30 so as to be directed outwardly at an angle towards the brushes 64 and the blade 78.

The use of this tool 10 is essentially very simple. As I the tool 10 is mounted upon the rod 18 and the-ma- 4 chine 12 is operated, the rod 18 will be moved in a lengthwise direction away from the cylinder 14 so as to be inserted in a pipe (not shown) as the rod 18 and the tool 10 are rotated. The blade78 will act more or less like a drill within such a pipe tending to dislodge accumulations and deposits within this pipe. As this occurs the fluid supplied through the rod 18 will move through the holes 80 and 82 so as to tend to dislodge particles cut away or knocked off of the interior of the pipe, and so as to tend to sweep or convey suchparticles out of the pipe.

As the tool 10 is advanced into the pipe the brushes 64 will engage the interior of the pipe so as to exercise a sweeping type of cleaning action removing particles which may not have been completely removed through the operation of the blade 78. These brushes 64 will also tend to agitate the mixture of fluid and particles within the pipe so as to aid in the conveyance of separated particles from the interior of the pipe by the supplied fluid.

With this structure the blade 78 used need not exactly correspond to. the internal dimensions with which the tool 10 is used. This is because the brushes 64 will tend to supplement the action of the blade 78 so as to remove material not separated from a pipe interior by this blade 78. Preferably these brushes 64 are conventional steel brushes so as to not only act as brushes, but

so as to also exercise an abrading cutting action against deposits which may remain in the pipe because the blade 78 does not precisely fit within the pipe. As a result of this type of action the blade 78 need not be so precisely formed that there is any danger of it damaging the interior of the pipe in order to accomplish removal of substantially all material within a pipe.

In accordance with this invention effective results can be achieved by omitting the housing 30 previously described and, if desired, the nut 68. When these parts are omitted the end 40 of the sleeve 42 may be directly threaded into the rod 18. The nut 68 may, of course, be retained when the housing 30 is omitted. When the housing 30 is omitted the toolv 10 will perform effectively for its intended purpose. However, when the housing 30 is omitted the flushing action achieved through the distribution of a fluid into a pipe will be less than the flushing action achieved when this housing 30 is employed. The use of angled jets, of fluid from this housing 30 is considered to be important in achieving desired agitation and removal of particles of material which have been removed from the interior of a pipe.

I claim:

1. In a machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe, which machine includes a hollow rod, a cleaning tool located on one end of the rod, a means for moving the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod,means for rotating the rod as it is moved in a lengthwise direction and means for conveying a fluid through the rod, the improvement which comprises:

said cleaning tool comprising a combination drilling and brushing tool,

said drilling and brushing tool including a hollow sleeve attached to one end of said rod, a retainer located around said sleeve so as to be secured to said sleeve, a plurality of brushing elements mounted in rows on the exterior of said sleeve upon said retainer so as to be capable of being periodically replaced, and a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve'remote from the rod, said blade having at least one hole leading to its cutting surface which is in communication with the interior of the rod through the sleeve.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod,

said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said retainer is a hollow cylindrical retainer, said retainer having longitudinally extending slots extending along its length,

and including,

a brush mounting bar located within each of said slots,

an end cap fitting around said sleeve and around said retainer at each of the ends of said retainer, said end caps serving to hold said bars within said slots,

said brush elements being mounted on said bars so as to extend therefrom.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 including:

a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod,

said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade.

5. In a machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe, which machine includes a hollow rod, a cleaning tool located on one end of the rod, means for moving the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, means for rotating the rod as it is moved in a lengthwise direction and means for conveying a fluid through the rod, the improvement which comprises:

said cleaning tool comprising a combination drilling and brushing tool,

said drilling and brushing tool including a hollow sleeve attached to one end of said rod, a plurality of brushing elements located on the exterior of said sleeve, a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve remote from the rod, said blade having at least one hole leading to its cutting surface which is in communication with the interior of the rod through the sleeve,

a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod,

said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade; g 

1. In a machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe, which machine includes a hollow rod, a cleaning tool located on one end of the rod, a means for moving the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, means for rotating the rod as it is moved in a lengthwise direction and means for conveying a fluid through the rod, the improvement which comprises: said cleaning tool comprising a combination drilling and brushing tool, said drilling and brushing tool including a hollow sleeve attached to one end of said rod, a retainer located around said sleeve so as to be secured to said sleeve, a plurality of brushing elements mounted in rows on the exterior of said sleeve upon said retainer so as to be capable of being periodically replaced, and a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve remote from the rod, said blade having at least one hole leading to its cutting surface which is in communication with the interior of the rod through the sleeve.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod, said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said retainer is a hollow cylindrical retainer, said retainer having longitudinally extending slots extending along its length, and including, a brush mounting bar located within each of said slots, an end cap fitting around said sleeve and around said retainer at each of the ends of said retainer, said end caps serving to hold said bars within said slots, said brush elements being mounted on said bars so as to extend therefrom.
 4. A machine as claimed in Claim 3 including: a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod, said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade.
 5. In a machine for use in cleaning the interior of a pipe, which machine includes a hollow rod, a cleaning tool located on one end of the rod, means for moving the rod in a lengthwise direction coupled to the other end of the rod, means for rotating the rod as it is moved in a lengthwise direction and means for conveying a fluid through the rod, the improvement which comprises: said cleaning tool comprising a combination drilling and brushing tool, said drilling and brushing tool including a hollow sleeve attached to one end of said rod, a plurality of brushing elements located on the exterior of said sleeve, a cutting blade located on the end of the sleeve remote from the rod, said blade having at least one hole leading to its cutting surface which is in communication with the interior of the rod through the sleeve, a hollow housing coupled to said one end of said rod and to said sleeve, said housing being located between said sleeve and said rod, said housing having a plurality of holes extending from the interior to the exterior thereof which are directed outwardly from said housing at an angle towards said brushing elements and said blade. 